It’s 9:00 a.m. on a typical day at the Turning Point Clubhouse in Prineville, Oregon. Early-birds have put on the coffee pot and now members begin arriving, greeting each other, catching up and beginning to discuss the day’s activities.

Sponsored by Lutheran Community Services, Turning Point Clubhouse is a community-based rehabilitation and support program for adults dealing with mental illness. Some members also have developmental disabilities. Membership is open to individuals referred by LCS’ Crook County Mental Health office. The program is voluntary and available at no cost to the members. Several residents of the new Prairie House housing facility are also active members of Turning Point.

At 9:30 a pickup arrives with donated clothing and baby supplies from a local congregation. Members pitch in to unload and sort the items for sale in their adjoining Thrift Shop. Throughout the morning, members check the Job Board, signing up for tasks for the day. Members are responsible for the upkeep and operation of the club. Jobs include cleaning, shopping, cooking, emptying the trash and gardening.

At Noon everyone gathers around the kitchen table for their daily communal lunch. Clubhouse members take turns preparing nutritious, family-style meals for other members and their guests. The meals are also provided free-of-charge.

After lunch, Clubhouse member Penny begins her shift at the Turning Point Thrift Shop. “It gets me out of the house and gives me a chance to do something,” she emphasizes. “The best parts of working here are sorting clothes, working the cash register and meeting customers.”

In addition to helping Clubhouse members gain work skills, the Thrift Shop also serves as a valuable community resource. The shop provides a discount for seniors, and low-income families can use vouchers to buy items like school clothes. Earnings from the Thrift Shop go toward purchasing groceries for the daily lunches and paying for activities.

Group activities and outings are also an important component of Turning Point. “We have once-a-month meetings to plan our activities and trips,” explains Gene, another member. “We went on trips to Sisters, the Painted Hills and the High Desert Museum.” Members also organize fund-raisers to help pay for outings further a-field, including a trip to the Oregon Coast. Turning Point is part of a network of six similar drop-in centers, and members’ outings frequently include visits to other, similar clubhouse programs.

Turning Point’s purpose and philosophy is reflected in its mission statement: “Helping ourselves through support to others and providing services to the community,” and its four key goals:

“Approximately 35 members visit the clubhouse and participate in activities in an average month, and about 15 members are ‘regulars’,” notes Gena Grizzard, LCS’ Community Treatment Coordinator for Turning Point and Prairie House. “Part of our role is to provide a network of companionship and support for members – to be their family away from family.

“With mental health services, Turning Point, Prairie House, alcohol and drug treatment and developmental disability programs, we’re trying to provide a continuum of services. We actively partner with other agencies to provide housing assistance, job training and employment assistance. Local businesses have also been very supportive. We’re fortunate to be very linked to and supported by the community.”